Author Jennie Shortridge stops by... (and a Giveaway)

Readers, please join me welcoming Jennie Shortridge, author of When She Flew, who’s guest blogging here today!

“Mesmerized” by the true story of a war veteran and his twelve-year-old daughter who, after going undetected for years, were discovered living in a densely wooded Portland park, Shortridge—ever the novelist—empathized strongly with those involved, from the father and child to those who found and then became involved in their lives. Soon a character emerged, one that captured the conflicting emotions and responsibilities of those obligated to carry out specific actions, even when it goes against their instincts.

One of my favorite parts the writing process is doing research. My latest novel, When She Flew, is based on a true story, which required extensive research. I first heard about the Vietnam vet raising his daughter outdoors in the Oregon woods when I was living in Portland in 2004. The story captivated me as it unfolded in the media. The thoughts and emotions inspired by the situation stayed with me long after the news lined recycling bins. I never forgot the people, their story, or their struggle, and in 2007 I decided to write a fictional story inspired by them.

My research was intense. For a year and a half I poured over news clippings, public records and spent a great deal of time meeting with a police officer involved in the case. This officer did an extraordinary thing, and it was important to understand it in the context of how police function, what protocol is necessary and the unspoken rules of police work.

In addition, I explored the woods where the pair lived and retraced their steps. I imagined their routines, their needs, and their desires. While visiting the camp, I could still see traces of their living space, which gave dimension to all the details told in the press. Being immersed in the green of the woods, smelling the earth and trees, and walking in their footsteps enabled me to write with the kind of veracity I like to read in others’ stories.

I then cast my version of their experience told from the perspectives of such a girl and a female police officer who finagles her way onto the search team. I interviewed female officers to understand what it was like to be a woman on “the force”. My imaginary characters included a minister, a “bad boy” turned disciple, and a couple who was part of a network of people working to help the unrepresented in our society. With each character I needed to learn more from people who were in similar situations. For this the internet proves valuable but nothing is better than face to face discussions with often many people to create rich composites.

The result is, When She Flew, the story of Ray Wiggs, an Iraq war veteran, and his 13-year-old daughter, Lindy. They have lived for five years in the woods, off the radar, trying to survive on the meager pension Ray receives as a disabled veteran. He wants what’s best for Lindy, and would rather raise her in the woods than on the city streets, subjecting her to drugs and violence and crime. When Lindy is spotted by a bird watcher, everything changes as the police search the forest to find her, make sure she is not in danger and to take her out of the woods and do the “right” thing by her.

Second generation police officer Jessica Villareal is a single mom. She’s on the police search team that discovers Ray and Lindy, and she feels a connection to the girl, as she is estranged from her own daughter. Through questioning the “forest people,” she begins to question everything she thought she knew about being a mother, about being a cop, about how we raise children and what safety really means. Her definitions of safety and well-being for Lindy take on a new meaning as she battles her fellow officers, society, and the media to do the right thing for Ray and Lindy, and ultimately, for herself.

I never did meet the real father and daughter and didn’t want to. It was important to be able to create my own characters and tell my perception of the story and why I think it is important to be aware of people in situations like theirs. Part of my research is to know where to look, who to look to and when to stop. I don’t know what happened to the real “forest people” and wanted to protect their privacy. I would like to think they are thriving and in good health, living the kinds of lives that make them happiest, away from the public eye.
__________________________________________________________________

When She Flew is Jennie’s fourth novel. She lives in Seattle, WA, and is working on a new book that is also inspired by true events.

My copy is on its way and while I missed the news bit about the veteran and his daughter, I can’t wait to read this fictional account. Good news is that Publishers Weekly, in a pre-publication review, says that in “examining people willing to sidestep the rules in pursuit of a greater good, Shortridge’s fourth novel recalls Barbara Kingsolver’s Pigs in Heaven.”

Many thanks to Jennie (and Joy!) for sending in this guest post at short notice and in spite of an injury!

GIVEAWAY

The Prize

A copy of this book will go to one lucky reader.

To Enter
Read any other fiction based on true events? Let me know.

You must include your email address at the end of your comment, so you can be notified should you be chosen as a winner. Use the format abc AT xyz DOT com, to avoid spammers.

For Extra Entries

Please leave a NEW comment for each extra entry you do.
1 ENTRY – Subscribe to A Book Blogger’s Diary feed
1 ENTRY – Subscribe to A Book Blogger’s Diary Email Updates
1 ENTRY – Add A Book Blogger’s Diary Button (see right sidebar) to your blog
1 ENTRY – Add A Book Blogger’s Diary text link to your blog roll
1 ENTRY – Add A Book Blogger’s Diary to your Technorati Favorites
1 ENTRY – Become a fan of A Book Blogger’s Diary on Facebook
1 ENTRY – Follow this blog 
DAILY ENTRY – Follow A Book Blogger’s Diary on Twitter AND tweet this giveaway @callmeabookworm
10 ENTRIES – Blog about this giveaway including links to the Sponsor and this giveaway
UNLIMITED ENTRIES – Comment on any non-giveaway post. Comment here with the title of that post for each you do.
Readers who’ve won here in the last 3 months are not eligible. 

Deadline   Midnight CST of Feb 4, 2010.

Eligibility  US only.

Please read the Disclaimer. Good luck!
Disclosure – This book was received for review/feature consideration.
——————————————————————————–
If you like this post, then please consider subscribing to my Full Feed RSS.
You can also Subscribe by Email and have new posts sent directly to your inbox.